48.61(4) (4) To provide for the moral and religious training of children in its legal custody according to the religious belief of the child or the child's parents.
48.61(5) (5) If licensed to do so, to accept guardianship of children when appointed by the court, and to place children under its guardianship for adoption.
48.61(6) (6) To provide services to the court under s. 48.07.
48.61(7) (7) To license foster homes or treatment foster homes in accordance with s. 48.75 if licensed to do so.
48.61 Cross-reference Cross Reference: See also ch. DCF 54, Wis. adm. code.
48.615 48.615 Child welfare agency licensing fees.
48.615(1) (1)
48.615(1)(a)(a) Before the department may issue a license under s. 48.60 (1) to a child welfare agency that regularly provides care and maintenance for children within the confines of a residential care center for children and youth operated by the child welfare agency, the child welfare agency must pay to the department a biennial fee of $121, plus a biennial fee of $18.15 per child, based on the number of children that the child welfare agency is licensed to serve.
48.615(1)(b) (b) Before the department may issue a license under s. 48.60 (1) to a child welfare agency that places children in licensed foster homes, licensed treatment foster homes, and licensed group homes and in the homes of guardians under s. 48.977 (2), the child welfare agency must pay to the department a biennial fee of $254.10.
48.615(1)(c) (c) A child welfare agency that wishes to continue a license issued under s. 48.60 (1) shall pay the applicable fee under par. (a) or (b) by the continuation date of the license.
48.615(1)(d) (d) A new child welfare agency shall pay the applicable fee under par. (a) or (b) no later than 30 days before the opening of the child welfare agency.
48.615(2) (2) A child welfare agency that wishes to continue a license issued under s. 48.60 (1) and that fails to pay the applicable fee under sub. (1) (a) or (b) by the continuation date of the license or a new child welfare agency that fails to pay the applicable fee under sub. (1) (a) or (b) by 30 days before the opening of the child welfare agency shall pay an additional fee of $5 per day for every day after the deadline that the agency fails to pay the fee.
subch. XIV of ch. 48 SUBCHAPTER XIV
FOSTER HOMES AND TREATMENT FOSTER HOMES
48.619 48.619 Definition. In this subchapter, "child" means a person under 18 years of age and also includes, for purposes of counting the number of children for whom a foster home, treatment foster home, or group home may provide care and maintenance, a person 18 years of age or over, but under 19 years of age, who is a full-time student at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent, who is reasonably expected to complete the program before reaching 19 years of age, who was residing in the foster home, treatment foster home, or group home immediately prior to his or her 18th birthday, and who continues to reside in that foster home, treatment foster home, or group home.
48.619 History History: 2001 a. 69.
48.62 48.62 Licensing of foster homes and treatment foster homes; rates.
48.62(1)(1)
48.62(1)(a)(a) Any person who receives, with or without transfer of legal custody, 4 or fewer children or, if necessary to enable a sibling group to remain together, 6 or fewer children or, if the department promulgates rules permitting a different number of children, the number of children permitted under those rules, to provide care and maintenance for those children shall obtain a license to operate a foster home from the department, a county department or a licensed child welfare agency as provided in s. 48.75.
48.62(1)(b) (b) Any person who receives, with or without transfer of legal custody, 4 or fewer children into a home to provide care and maintenance and structured, professional treatment for those children shall obtain a license to operate a treatment foster home from the department, a county department or a licensed child welfare agency as provided in s. 48.75.
48.62(2) (2) A relative[,,] or a guardian of a child who provides care and maintenance for the child is not required to obtain the license specified in this section. The department, county department, or licensed child welfare agency as provided in s. 48.75 may issue a license to operate a foster home or a treatment foster home to a relative who has no duty of support under s. 49.90 (1) (a) and who requests a license to operate a foster home or treatment foster home for a specific child who is either placed by court order or who is the subject of a voluntary placement agreement under s. 48.63. The department, a county department, or a licensed child welfare agency may, at the request of a guardian appointed under s. 48.977 or 48.978, ch. 54, or ch. 880, 2003 stats., license the guardian's home as a foster home or treatment foster home for the guardian's minor ward who is living in the home and who is placed in the home by court order. Relatives with no duty of support and guardians appointed under s. 48.977 or 48.978, ch. 54, or ch. 880, 2003 stats., who are licensed to operate foster homes or treatment foster homes are subject to the department's licensing rules.
48.62 Note NOTE: Sub. (2) is shown as affected by 2 acts of the 2005 Wisconsin legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c). The bracketed commas were inserted by 2005 Wis. Act 387, but rendered surplusage by 2005 Wis. Act 232. Corrective legislation is pending.
48.62(3) (3) When the department, a county department or a child welfare agency issues a license to operate a foster home or a treatment foster home, the department, county department or child welfare agency shall notify the clerk of the school district in which the foster home or treatment foster home is located that a foster home or treatment foster home has been licensed in the school district.
48.62(4) (4) Monthly payments in foster care shall be provided according to the age-related rates specified in this subsection. Beginning on January 1, 2008, the age-related rates are $333 for a child under 5 years of age; $363 for a child 5 to 11 years of age; $414 for a child 12 to 14 years of age; and $432 for a child 15 years of age or over. Beginning on January 1, 2009, the age-related rates are $349 for a child under 5 years of age; $381 for a child 5 to 11 years of age; $433 for a child 12 to 14 years of age; and $452 for a child 15 years of age or over. In addition to these grants for basic maintenance, the department shall make supplemental payments for special needs, exceptional circumstances, care in a treatment foster home, and initial clothing allowances according to rules promulgated by the department.
48.62(5) (5)
48.62(5)(a)(a) Subject to par. (d), a county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments in the amount specified in par. (e) to a guardian of a child under s. 48.977 (2) or under a substantially similar tribal law or law of another state who was licensed as the child's foster parent or treatment foster parent before the guardianship appointment and who has entered into a subsidized guardianship agreement with the county department or department if the guardian meets the conditions specified in par. (c) 1. and 2. and if the child meets any of the following conditions:
48.62(5)(a)1. 1. The child has been placed outside of his or her home, as described in s. 48.365 (1), for a cumulative total period of one year or longer, the court has found that the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child under a court order has made reasonable efforts to make it possible for the child to return to his or her home, while assuring that the child's health and safety are the paramount concerns, but that reunification of the child with the child's parent or parents is unlikely or contrary to the best interests of the child and that further reunification efforts are unlikely to be made or are contrary to the best interests of the child, or that any of the circumstances specified in s. 48.355 (2d) (b) 1. to 5. apply, and the court has found that appointment of a guardian for the child is in the best interests of the child.
48.62(5)(a)2. 2. The child does not meet the conditions specified in subd. 1., but the county department or department has determined, and a court has confirmed under s. 48.977 (3r) or under a substantially similar tribal law or law of another state, that appointing a guardian for the child and providing monthly subsidized guardianship payments to the guardian are in the best interests of the child.
48.62(5)(b) (b) Subject to par. (d), on the death, incapacity, resignation, or removal of a guardian receiving payments under par. (a), a county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments in the amount specified in par. (e) for a period of up to 12 months to an interim caretaker who meets all of the conditions specified in par. (c).
48.62(5)(c) (c) A county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department may not provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments under par. (a) or (b) unless all of the following conditions are met:
48.62(5)(c)1. 1. The county department or department inspects the home of the guardian or interim caretaker, interviews the guardian or interim caretaker, and determines that placement of the child with the guardian or interim caretaker is in the best interests of the child.
48.62(5)(c)2. 2. The county department or department conducts a background investigation under s. 48.57 (3p) of the guardian or interim caretaker, the employees and prospective employees of the guardian or interim caretaker who have or would have regular contact with the child for whom the payments would be made, and any other adult resident, as defined in s. 48.57 (3p) (a), of the home of the guardian or interim caretaker and determines that those individuals do not have any arrests or convictions that are likely to adversely affect the child or the ability of the guardian or interim caretaker to care for the child.
48.62(5)(c)3. 3. In the case of an interim caretaker, the interim caretaker cooperates with the county department or department in finding a permanent placement for the child.
48.62(5)(d) (d) The department shall request from the secretary of the federal department of health and human services a waiver of the requirements under 42 USC 670 to 679a that would authorize the state to receive federal foster care and adoption assistance reimbursement under 42 USC 670 to 679a for the costs of providing care for a child who is in the care of a guardian who was licensed as the child's foster parent or treatment foster parent before the guardianship appointment and who has entered into a subsidized guardianship agreement with the county department or department. If the waiver is approved for a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department shall provide the monthly payments under par. (a) from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cx), (gx), (kw), and (mx). If the waiver is approved for any other county, the department shall determine which counties are authorized to provide monthly payments under par. (a) or (b), and the county departments of those counties shall provide those payments from moneys received under s. 48.569 (1) (d).
48.62(5)(e) (e) The amount of a monthly payment under par. (a) or (b) for the care of a child shall equal the amount received under sub. (4) by the guardian of the child for the month immediately preceding the month in which the guardianship order was granted. A guardian or an interim caretaker who receives a monthly payment under par. (a) or (b) is not eligible to receive a payment under sub. (4) or s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n).
48.62(6) (6) The department or a county department may recover an overpayment made under sub. (4) or (5) from a foster parent, treatment foster parent, guardian, or interim caretaker who continues to receive payments under sub. (4) or (5) by reducing the amount of the person's monthly payment. The department may by rule specify other methods for recovering overpayments made under sub. (4) or (5). A county department that recovers an overpayment under this subsection due to the efforts of its officers and employees may retain a portion of the amount recovered, as provided by the department by rule.
48.62(7) (7) In each federal fiscal year, the department shall ensure that there are no more than 2,200 children in foster care and treatment foster care placements for more than 24 months, consistent with the best interests of each child. Services provided in connection with this requirement shall comply with the requirements under P.L. 96-272.
48.62 Cross-reference Cross Reference: See also ch. DCF 56, Wis. adm. code.
48.62 Annotation A foster child in a family owned foster home under a one-year dispositional order is a resident of the household for insurance purposes. A. G. v. Travelers Insurance Co. 112 Wis. 2d 18, 331 N.W.2d 643 (Ct. App. 1983).
48.62 Annotation Foster homes owned, operated, or contracted for by the department or a county department are immune from local zoning ordinances. Foster homes owned, operated, or contracted for by licensed child welfare agencies are not immune. All family operated foster homes are subject to local zoning. Municipal foster home licensing ordinances are unenforceable. 63 Atty. Gen. 34.
48.62 Annotation State-licensed foster homes are immune from local zoning ordinances restricting the number of unrelated occupants of single family dwellings. 66 Atty. Gen. 342.
48.625 48.625 Licensing of group homes; fees.
48.625(1) (1) Any person who receives, with or without transfer of legal custody, 5 to 8 children, not including children who under sub. (1m) are not counted toward that number, to provide care and maintenance for those children shall obtain a license to operate a group home from the department. To obtain a license under this subsection to operate a group home, a person must meet the minimum requirements for a license established by the department under s. 48.67, meet the requirements specified in s. 48.685 and pay the license fee under sub. (2). A license issued under this subsection is valid until revoked or suspended, but shall be reviewed every 2 years as provided in s. 48.66 (5).
48.625(1m) (1m) The department may issue a license under sub. (1) authorizing a group home solely to provide a safe and structured living arrangement for children 12 years of age or over who are custodial parents, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (b), or expectant mothers and who are placed in the group home under s. 48.345 (3) (cm) or 938.34 (3) (cm) and for children 14 years of age or over who are custodial parents, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (b), or expectant mothers and who are placed in the group home under voluntary agreements under s. 48.63 (5), and to provide those children with training in parenting skills, including child development, family budgeting, health and nutrition, and other skills to promote the long-term economic independence of those children and the well-being of the children of those children. In licensing a group home described in this subsection, the department may not count toward the number of children whom the group home is licensed to serve the child of a child who is placed in the group home. The department shall promulgate rules establishing standards for a group home described in this subsection. Those rules shall require such a group home to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the child of any child custodial parent who has been placed in that group home and to have a policy governing visitation between such a child and the child's noncustodial parent.
48.625(2) (2)
48.625(2)(a)(a) Before the department may issue a license under sub. (1) to a group home, the group home must pay to the department a biennial fee of $121, plus a biennial fee of $18.15 per child, based on the number of children that the group home is licensed to serve. A group home that wishes to continue a license issued under sub. (1) shall pay the fee under this paragraph by the continuation date of the license. A new group home shall pay the fee under this paragraph no later than 30 days before the opening of the group home.
48.625(2)(b) (b) A group home that wishes to continue a license issued under sub. (1) and that fails to pay the fee under par. (a) by the continuation date of the license or a new group home that fails to pay the fee under par. (a) by 30 days before the opening of the group home shall pay an additional fee of $5 per day for every day after the deadline that the group home fails to pay the fee.
48.625(2m) (2m) When the department issues a license to operate a group home, the department shall notify the clerk of the school district in which the group home is located that a group home has been licensed in the school district.
48.625(3) (3) This section does not apply to a foster home licensed under s. 48.62 (1) (a) or to a treatment foster home licensed under s. 48.62 (1) (b).
48.625 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 48.66 for the department's licensing authority.
48.627 48.627 Foster, treatment foster and family-operated group home parent insurance and liability.
48.627(1) (1) In this section, "family-operated group home" means a home licensed under s. 48.625 for which the licensee is one or more individuals who operate not more than one group home.
48.627(2) (2)
48.627(2)(a)(a) Before the department, a county department or a licensed child welfare agency may issue, renew or continue a foster home, treatment foster home or family-operated group home license, the licensing agency shall require the applicant to furnish proof satisfactory to the licensing agency that he or she has homeowner's or renter's liability insurance that provides coverage for negligent acts or omissions by children placed in a foster home, treatment foster home or family-operated group home that result in bodily injury or property damage to 3rd parties.
48.627(2)(b) (b) A licensing agency may, in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, waive the requirement under par. (a) if the applicant shows that he or she is unable to obtain the required insurance, that he or she has had a homeowner's or renter's liability insurance policy canceled or that payment of the premium for the required insurance would cause undue financial hardship.
48.627(2)(c) (c) The department shall conduct a study to determine the cost-effectiveness of purchasing insurance to provide standard homeowner's or renter's liability insurance coverage for applicants who are granted a waiver under par. (b). If the department determines that it would be cost-effective to purchase such insurance, it may purchase the insurance from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) and (pd).
48.627(2)(d) (d) The licensing agency shall specify the amounts of liability insurance coverage required under par. (a).
48.627(2c) (2c) The department shall determine the cost-effectiveness of purchasing private insurance that would provide coverage to foster, treatment foster, and family-operated group home parents for acts or omissions by or affecting a child who is placed in a foster home, a treatment foster home, or a family-operated group home. If this private insurance is cost-effective and available, the department shall purchase the insurance from the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) and (pd). If the insurance is unavailable, payment of claims for acts or omissions by or affecting a child who is placed in a foster home, a treatment foster home, or a family-operated group home shall be in accordance with subs. (2m) to (3).
48.627(2m) (2m) Within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) and (pd), the department shall pay claims to the extent not covered by any other insurance and subject to the limitations specified in sub. (3), for bodily injury or property damage sustained by a licensed foster, treatment foster, or family-operated group home parent or a member of the foster, treatment foster, or family-operated group home parent's family as a result of the act of a child in the foster, treatment foster, or family-operated group home parent's care.
48.627(2s) (2s) Within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) and (pd), the department may pay claims to the extent not covered by any other insurance and subject to the limitations specified in sub. (3), for all of the following:
48.627(2s)(a) (a) Acts or omissions of the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent that result in bodily injury to the child who is placed in the foster home, treatment foster home or family-operated group home or that form the basis for a civil action for damages by the foster child's parent against the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent.
48.627(2s)(b) (b) Bodily injury or property damage caused by an act or omission of a child who is placed in the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent's care for which the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent becomes legally liable.
48.627(3) (3)
48.627(3)(b)(b) A claim under sub. (2m) shall be submitted to the department within 90 days after the bodily injury or property damage occurs. A claim under sub. (2s) shall be submitted within 90 days after a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent learns that a legal action has been commenced against that parent. No claim may be paid under this subsection unless it is submitted within the time limits specified in this paragraph.
48.627(3)(c) (c) The department shall review and approve in whole or in part or disapprove all claims received under this subsection during each 3-month period beginning with the period from July 1, 1985, to September 30, 1985.
48.627(3)(d) (d) No claim may be approved in an amount exceeding the total amount available for paying claims under this subsection in the fiscal year during which the claim is submitted. No claim for property damage sustained by a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent or a member of a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent's family may be approved in an amount exceeding $250,000.
48.627(3)(e) (e) The department may not approve a claim unless the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent submits with the claim evidence that is satisfactory to the department of the cause and value of the claim and evidence that insurance coverage is unavailable or inadequate to cover the claim. If insurance is available but inadequate, the department may approve a claim only for the amount of the value of the claim that it determines is in excess of the amount covered by insurance.
48.627(3)(f) (f) If the total amount of the claims approved during any calendar quarter exceeds 25% of the total funds available during the fiscal year for purposes of this subsection plus any unencumbered funds remaining from the previous quarter, the department shall prorate the available funds among the claimants with approved claims. The department shall also prorate any unencumbered funds remaining in the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) at the end of each fiscal year among the claimants whose claims were prorated during the fiscal year. Payment of a prorated amount from unencumbered funds remaining at the end of the fiscal year constitutes a complete payment of the claim for purposes of this program, but does not prohibit a foster parent or treatment foster parent from submitting a claim under s. 16.007 for the unpaid portion.
48.627(3)(g) (g) A claimant whose claim is denied or whose payment is prorated is not entitled to a hearing under ch. 227 on the issue of the denial or proration.
48.627(3)(h) (h) If a claim by a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent or a member of the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent's family is approved, the department shall deduct from the amount approved $100 less any amount deducted by an insurance company from a payment for the same claim, except that a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent and his or her family are subject to only one deductible for all claims filed in a fiscal year.
48.627(3)(i) (i) The department may enter into a contract for the administration of this subsection.
48.627(4) (4) Except as provided in s. 895.485, the department is not liable for any act or omission by or affecting a child who is placed in a foster home, treatment foster home, or family-operated group home, but shall, as provided in this section, pay claims described under sub. (2m) and may pay claims described under sub. (2s) or may purchase insurance to cover such claims as provided for under sub. (2c), within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cf) and (pd).
48.627(5) (5) The attorney general may represent a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent in any civil action arising out of an act or omission of the foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent while acting in his or her capacity as a foster, treatment foster or family-operated group home parent.
48.627 Annotation Foster parents are not agents of the county for purposes of tort liability. Kara B. v. Dane County, 198 Wis. 2d 24, 542 N.W.2d 777 (Ct. App. 1995), 94-1081.
48.63 48.63 Restrictions on placements.
48.63(1) (1) Acting under court order or voluntary agreement, the child's parent or guardian or the department, the department of corrections, a county department, or a child welfare agency licensed to place children in foster homes, treatment foster homes, or group homes may place a child or negotiate or act as intermediary for the placement of a child in a foster home, treatment foster home, or group home. Voluntary agreements under this subsection may not be used for placements in facilities other than foster, treatment foster, or group homes and may not be extended. A foster home or treatment foster home placement under a voluntary agreement may not exceed 180 days from the date on which the child was removed from the home under the voluntary agreement. A group home placement under a voluntary agreement may not exceed 15 days from the date on which the child was removed from the home under the voluntary agreement, except as provided in sub. (5). These time periods do not apply to placements made under s. 48.345, 938.183, 938.34, or 938.345. Voluntary agreements may be made only under this subsection and sub. (5) (b) and shall be in writing and shall specifically state that the agreement may be terminated at any time by the parent or guardian or by the child if the child's consent to the agreement is required. The child's consent to the agreement is required whenever the child is 12 years of age or older. If a county department, the department, or the department of corrections places a child or negotiates or acts as intermediary for the placement of a child under this subsection, the voluntary agreement shall also specifically state that the county department, department, or department of corrections has placement and care responsibility for the child as required under 42 USC 672 (a) (2) and has primary responsibility for providing services to the child.
48.63(2) (2) No person may place a child or offer or hold himself or herself out as able to place a child, except as provided in this section. Enrollment of a child by a parent or guardian in an educational institution shall not constitute a placement for the purposes of this section.
48.63(3) (3)
48.63(3)(a)(a) Subsection (1) does not apply to the placement of a child for adoption. Adoptive placements may be made only as provided under par. (b) and ss. 48.833, 48.835, 48.837 and 48.839.
48.63(3)(b)1.1. At the request of a parent having custody of a child and the proposed adoptive parent or parents of the child, the department, a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm), or a child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60 may place the child in the home of the proposed adoptive parent or parents prior to termination of parental rights to the child as provided in subd. 2. or 3., whichever is applicable, and subd. 4.
48.63(3)(b)2. 2. The department, a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm), or a child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60 may place a child under subd. 1. in the home of a proposed adoptive parent or parents who reside in this state if that home is licensed as a foster home or treatment foster home under s. 48.62.
48.63(3)(b)3. 3. The department, a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm), or a child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60 may place a child under subd. 1. in the home of a proposed adoptive parent or parents who reside outside this state if the placement is made in compliance with s. 48.98 or 48.988, whichever is applicable, if the home meets the criteria established by the laws of the state where the proposed adoptive parent or parents reside for a preadoptive placement of a child in the home of a nonrelative, and if an appropriate agency in that state has completed an investigation of the home and filed a report and recommendation concerning the home with the department, county department, or licensed child welfare agency.
48.63(3)(b)4. 4. Before a child may be placed under subd. 1., the department, county department, or child welfare agency making the placement and the proposed adoptive parent or parents shall enter into a written agreement that specifies who is financially responsible for the cost of providing care for the child prior to the finalization of the adoption and for the cost of returning the child to the parent who has custody of the child if the adoption is not finalized. Under the agreement, the department, county department, or child welfare agency or the proposed adoptive parent or parents, but not the birth parent of the child or any alleged or presumed father of the child, shall be financially responsible for those costs.
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